Have you ever looked over at your neighbor's yard in the Spring and Summer months wishing you had their secrets to a beautiful and lush garden? Have you ever driven past a beautifully landscaped house time and again only to sit and stare at the kaleidoscope of colors that frame the home much like a Thomas Kincaid painting?

Well, the good new is that you too CAN have a garden that will be the envy of your neighborhood! All you need to do is take time to research shrubs, trees and flowers that grow best in your area. Next, you will need to map out your garden. Find out the species of plant life that thrives in the Midwest. These indigenous plants will not only survive the extreme changes from hot to cold much better than those plants forced to thrive in foreign soil conditions, but they will also repel damaging insects and pests.

Are you ready to begin? Let's get started! Here are a few local websites to visit which contain a surplus of information on hearty plants, trees and shrubs ideal for the Chicagoland area. Don't forget to vary the placement of blooming plants for spectacular colors throughout the viewing season:

Chicago Botanic Garden-www.chicagobotanic.org

The Morton Arboretum-http://www.mortonarb.org/

So grab your sunscreen, garden tools, gloves and just dig right on in! Your home will be the envy of the block!